Gee, that looked pretty good.


New York Mets - Washington Nationals - Major League Baseball - Baseball - Sports

The Philadelphia Phillies' recent surge has them back atop the NL East for the first time in more than three months.


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A New York Mets rookie nearly shut down the Washington Nationals in his major league debut. R.A. Dickey will try to deliver a similar performance.


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MEDICAL WATCH: --LHP Johan Santana (strained pectoral muscle) left the game Sept. 2. He played catch Sept. 4 and threw a bullpen session Sept. 5, but the Mets said they will skip his scheduled start Sept. 7 in Washington. The date for his return to the rotation has yet to be determined. --SS Jose Reyes (strained right oblique) left the Aug. 26 game, and he didn't play Aug. 27-Sept. 6. He is day-to-day. --RHP Francisco Rodriguez (torn ligament in right thumb) is out for the season. According to the Mets, Rodriguez admitted he suffered the injury during the incident Aug. 11 when he was involved in a fight in the family lounge at Citi Field, and as a result the team has placed him on the disqualified list, which means it doesn't want to pay him until he's healthy. --OF Jason Bay (concussion) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Sept. 6. He returned to Citi Field to begin a light workout program on Aug. 27, getting clearance from Mets team doctors to ride a bicycle. Bay said he hopes to return this season, but also acknowledged the time constraints could prevent him from doing so. --INF Fernando Tatis (sprained right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list July 5, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 15. --RHP John Maine (right rotator cuff tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list May 21, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Sept. 2. He began a minor league rehab assignment June 13, but he suffered renewed right shoulder soreness June 18 and was shut down. He had season-ending arthroscopic surgery July 23. --RHP Kelvim Escobar (right shoulder soreness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 21. He had season-ending surgery May 5. ROTATION: LHP Johan Santana RHP Mike Pelfrey LHP Jon Niese RHP R.A. Dickey RHP Jenrry Mejia RHP Dillon Gee BULLPEN: RHP Bobby Parnell LHP Hisanori Takahashi LHP Pedro Feliciano RHP Elmer Dessens RHP Manny Acosta LHP Oliver Perez LHP Raul Valdes LHP Pat Misch CATCHERS: Josh Thole Henry Blanco Mike Nickeas INFIELDERS: 1B Ike Davis 2B Ruben Tejada SS Jose Reyes 3B David Wright INF Luis Hernandez INF Luis Castillo INF Mike Hessman INF Joaquin Arias OUTFIELDERS: LF Chris Carter CF Carlos Beltran RF Angel Pagan OF Lucas Duda


Mike Pelfrey - David Wright - Ike Davis - National League - Jerry Manuel

Rookie Danny Espinosa drove in six runs, hitting a grand slam, a solo homer and getting two other hits and helping the Washington Nationals rout the New York Mets 13-3 Monday for their third straight victory.


Washington Nationals - New York Mets - Grand slam - Hit - Baseball

For teams like the New York Mets and Washington Nationals that are out of the playoff picture, September is a time to call up minor leaguers to give them some major league experience.


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Rookie Danny Espinosa drove in six runs, hitting a grand slam, a solo homer and getting two other hits and helping the Washington Nationals rout the New York Mets 13-3 Monday for their third straight victory.


Washington Nationals - New York Mets - Grand slam - Hit - Sports

Finally, the New York Mets showed some spark at the plate.


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New York Mets ace Johan Santana will miss his next scheduled start because of a strained left pectoral muscle.


Johan Santana - New York Mets - New York - United States - New York Mets ace Johan Santana

The Washington Nationals have no idea when phenom Stephen Strasburg will return from Tommy John surgery, but they're getting a good look at how well the procedure can work.


Washington Nationals - Stephen Strasburg - Tommy John surgery - Medicine - Tommy John

Carlos Zambrano was yelling and pumping his arms, looking as if he might go into another full-fledged meltdown.


Chicago Cubs - Starlin Castro - Kerry Wood - New York Mets - Carlos Zambrano

The Chicago Cubs are on their way towards missing the postseason for a second consecutive year, but Starlin Castro's streak at the plate has them surging.


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There aren't many positives the Chicago Cubs will take away once this awful season reaches its conclusion, so they'll cling to this one.


Chicago Cubs - New York Mets - Blake DeWitt - Sports - Baseball

New York Mets ace Johan Santana remains day to day with a strained left pectoral muscle.


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When the Chicago Cubs sent Carlos Zambrano to anger-management counseling in late June, they were hoping the hot-tempered pitcher would return to the club more composed.


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David Wright homered, Johan Santana won for the first time in four starts and the New York Mets snapped the Atlanta Braves' five-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory Thursday night.


New York Mets - Atlanta Braves - Johan Santana - David Wright - Baseball

David Wright homered, Johan Santana won for the first time in four starts and the New York Mets snapped the Atlanta Braves' five-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory Thursday night.


New York Mets - Atlanta Braves - Johan Santana - David Wright - Baseball